Optical instruments which teach mental perception of visual impressions



c. w. LANGE, SR omcm. INSTRUMENTS wnzca TEACH MENTAL Aug 20, 1957PERCEPTION 0F VISUAL IMPRESSIONS Original Filed Oct. 21. 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CARL W Lil/46E C. W. LANGE, SR OPTICALINSTRUMENTS WHICH TEACH MENTAL PERCEPTION OF VISUAL IMPRESSIONS OriginalFiled Oct. 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v INVEN rOR T CARL. W LAN/6E Fla. 6

ATTORNE United States Patent Ofiice 2,ss3,246 Patented Aug. 20, 19

OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS WHICH TEACH MENTAL PERCEPTION OF VISUAL 11V!-PRESSIONS Carl W. Lange, Sr., St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Carl W. Lange,Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

Original application October 21, 1949, Serial No. 122,633,

now Patent No. 2,741,245, dated April 10, 1956. Divided and thisapplication June 15, 1953, Serial No. 361,625

8 Claims. (Cl. 12876.5)

This invention relates to improvements in optical instruments. Moreparticularly this invention relates to an improved optical instrumentwhich teaches full mental perception of visual impressions received bythe eyes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved optical instrument that teaches full mental perception ofvisual impressions received by the eyes.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.122,633 and now Patent No. 2,741,245 for Optical Instruments Which TeachMental Perception of Visual Impressions which was filed October 21,1949.

It is frequently stated that defective vision is due to distortions ormalformation of the cornea or the aqueous humor of the eyes. Anydistortion or malformation of those two components of the eye couldeasily cause defective vision since these two components largely providethe refraction necessary for vision. In pursuance of the belief thatdefective vision is due to distortion or malformation of thesecomponents of the eye many of those skilled in the art equip patients,troubled with defective vision, with corrective spectacles. Othersskilled in the art attempt to eliminate or minimize the defects ormalformations in the cornea or aqueous humor'of the eye by exercisingthe intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the eye. The use of correctivespectacles can enable the patient to see with greater clarity, andexercising of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the eye may helpremove some strain on the cornea or aqueous humor, but in most casesneither corrective spectacles nor exercise of the intrinsic or extrinsicmuscles of the eye will adequately correct the defective vision.

- In some instances defective vision is actually due to defects ormalformations in the cornea or aque- 'ous humor of the eye, but in manymore instances defective vision is due to inadequate or incorrect mentalperception of the visual impressions received by the eyes. Thecornea andthe aqueous humor can be perfectly formed and can be free of distortion,and yet the patients vision can be defective; the patients brain beingunable to perceive adequately or correctly the visual impressionsreceived by the patients eyes. In some instances the patients brainalmost completely suppresses the visual impressions from one eye; thisphenomenon usually being noted in patients whose eyes are crossed. Inother instances the patients brain will perceive visual impression fromboth eyes but will partially suppress the visual impressions from one ofthose eyes; this phenomenon usually being noted in patients having anamblyopic eye. In all such instances, the patients brain will have aperception of the visual impressions received by the dominant eye butwill have an appreciably weaker perception of the visual impressionsreceived by the suppressed eye. Where defective vision is due to thisinadequate or incorrect mental perception of the visual impressionsreceived by thepatients eye, the use of corrective spectacles or theexercising of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the eyes will beunable to improve the patients vision for long, if at all. Suchimprovement in the patients vision 2 is, however, provided by thepattern-carrying charts contemplated by the present invention. Thosecharts teach the patients brain to perceive the visual impressionsreceived by the patients suppressed eye while the patients brain is alsoperceiving the visual impressions received by the patients dominant eye.The attainment of mental perception of the visual impressions receivedby both eyes is usually the beginning of the elimination of defectivevision. It is therefore an object of the present invention to providepattern-carrying charts which teach the patients brain to perceivevisual impressions from both eyes.

The pattern-carrying charts provided by the present invention haveportions that move. The charts are so constructed that distinctivelydifferent visual impressions will be received by each of the patientseyes, and each of those impressions should be perceived by the patientsbrain. Failure of the patients brain to perceive the two differentimpressions will indicate which eye is suppressed; and thereafter asufficiently high degree of stimulation can be given that eye, by motionof oneportion of the transilluminated chart, to force the patients brainto perceive the visual impression received by that eye. It is thereforean object of the present invention to provide instructivetrans-illuminated charts that have portions which move.

Trans-illumination of the charts is of critical importance since merefiat lighting of a chart will not adequately stimulate mentalperception. The brain is so accustomed to perceiving visual impressionsof flat-lighted objects, because most objects viewed by the eye areflat-lighted, that the suppressed eye will not be stimulatedsufi'lciently by a fiat-lighted chart to force the brain to perceive thevisual impression received by that eye. Trans-illumina tion, however, isnot ordinarily experienced, and thus it can stimulate the suppressed eyesufficiently to force the brain to perceive the visual impressionsreceived by that eye. The stimulating effect of trans-illuminated chartsis from five (5) to ten (10) times as great as the stimulating effect offlat-lighted charts. Additional increases in the stimulating effect ofthe charts can be attained by the movement of portions of the charts.Movement of portion of the charts will stimulate the retina in additionto the macula of the suppressed eye and will thus provide additivestimulations that can force the brain to perceive the visual impressionsreceived by that eye. 1

For most beneficial results, the stimulus to the suppressed eye must begreater than the stimulus to the dominant eye. Presenting a movableportion of the chart to the suppressed eye and a stationary portion ofthe chart to the dominant eye while trans-illuminating both portions ofthe chart will usually provide a sufficiently greater stimulus for thesuppressed eye. If additional stimulus is needed for the suppressed eyea filter, of a stimulating color such as red, can be interposed betweenthe portion of the chart presented to the suppressed eye and the sourceof illumination for that portion of the chart. Alternatively a filter ofa sedating color such as blue can be interposed between the portion ofthe chart presented to the dominant eye and the source of illuminationfor'that portion of the chart. This sedative filter will not directlystimulate the suppressed eye but it will make the stimula tion for thesuppressed eye stronger than the stimulation for the dominant eye. It istherefore an object of the present invention to interpose filtersbetween the portions of the charts and the sources of illuminationtherefor to change the relative stimulations provided by those portionsof the charts.

The charts provided by the present invention have relatively large,mutually distinct patterns thereon. The mu tual distinctiveness of thepatterns is necessary to enable the patient to recognize when his brainis perceiving the visual impressions received by both eyes. The largesize of the pattern is necessary because the suppression of one eye isfrequently so complete that small or moderate-sized patterns would becompletely missed. It is therefore an object of the present invention toprovide large, mutually distinct patterns for charts used in opticalinstruments.

The charts provided by the present invention enable the patient toattain (1) better vision in an amblyopic left eye, (2) better vision inan amblyopic right eye, (3) better rotation of the left eye, (4) betterrotation of the right eye, (5) better abduction for both eyes, (6)better adduction for both eyes, (7) better fusion for both eyes, (8)better stereopsis for both eyes, (9) better peripheral vision for theleft eye, and (10) better peripheral vision for the right eye. Thusthese charts can be used to correct or reduce many different types ofsight imperfections. The charts of the present invention are usable withan optical instrument with a rotation-imparting mechanism that canselectively cause movement of one or the other or both of the twoportions of the various charts, and which can be separated from thosecharts. The rotationimparting mechanism is preferably a motor-drivengear,

and it will engage gears in the charts; the gears in the charts causingmovement of the pattern-carrying portions and it will engage gears inthe charts; the gears in the various charts makes it possible for somecharts to cause one pattern to rotate, other charts to cause the otherpattern to rotate, and still other charts to have both patterns rotate;The various combinations, made possible with the motor-driven gear andthe various charts, enable the patient to correct many different sightimperfections. It is therefore an object of the present invention toprovide a motor-driven gear and interchangeable charts; some of whichcan rotate one pattern, others of which can rotate the other pattern,and still others of which can rotate both patterns.

By having the charts readily interchangeable, the present inventionmakes it possible to provide a number of charts directed to the sameteaching. This is highly desirable because it facilitates the teachingof a particular mental perception without any monotony; the use of anumber of different charts directed to the same teaching providingvariety and interest. It is therefore an object of the present inventionto provide a number of interchangeable charts directed to the sameteaching.

The movable pattern-carrying portions of the charts provided by thepresent invention will preferably be gears. These gears will be whollyenclosed and contained with the chart, and they will be rotated by asmall connecting gear which has a portion that projects out from thechart. The projecting portions of the connecting gears 'will releasablyengage the motor-driven gear of the optical instrument and will causethe gears within the charts to rotate. The connecting gears and thepattern-carrying gears can be interrelated in various ways to provideseveral combinations of relative motion for the patterns, withoutrequiring any change in the nature, size or direction of rotation of themotor-driven gear of the instrument. For we ample, the left hand patterncan be left stationary or can be rotated, the right hand pattern can beleft stationary or can be rotated, the left hand pattern can be rotatedin a clockwise direction while the right hand pattern is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, the left hand pattern can be rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, While the right hand pattern is rotated ina clockwise direction, or both patterns can be rotated in the samedirection simultaneously. This arrangement provides a large number ofmotions to facilitate the teaching of mental perception of visualimpressions. It is therefore an object of the present invention toprovide charts which contain pattern-carrying gears and connectinggears, and to interrelate those gears so they can provide variouscombinations of motions without any change in the nature, size ordirection of the rotation of the motor-driven gear.

In many instances the patients brain is unable to fuse mentally thevisual impressions received by his eyes. This result is due to the factthat the patients brain is dominantly perceiving visual impressions fromone eye; the

. patient virtually having monocular vision. One method used inattempting to teach fusion is to cover the dominant eye with a patch andthereby force the patients brain to perceive the visual impressionsreceived by the suppressed eye. While this method does teach mentalperception of visual impressions received by the suppressed eye, itstill teaches monocular vision rather than the binocular vision requiredfor fusion; the suppressed eye merely being substituted for the dominanteye. The present invention provides full and complete teaching of fusionby means of complementary patterns. The brain will naturally perceivethe pattern presented to the dominant eye, and it will be forced toperceive the pattern presented to the suppressed eye; the rotation andtrans-illumination of that pattern providing a stimulus the suppressedeye cannot deny. The brain will then act to fuse the two visualimpressions together, thus providing fusion. It is therefore an objectof the present invention to provide complementary patterns for thepatients eyes, and to trans-illuminate and rotate the pattern presentedto the suppressed eye.

The charts provided by the present invention will be disposed whollybetween the lines of sight from the patients eyes to the source ofillumination for the charts. This permits full trans-illumination of thecharts when those charts are made of transparent material, and it alsopermits the use of colored filters between the charts and the source ofillumination.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is shown and described but it is to be understoodthat the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose ofillustration only and do not limit the invention and that the inventionwill be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a chart that is made in accordancewith the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a chart intended to teach abduction andadduction,

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a chart with patterns intended to teachstereopsis,

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a chart with patterns intended to overcomeamblyopia,

' Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of the chart of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of another chart which has patternsintended to overcome amblyopia,

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a chart which has patterns intended toteach rotation, peripheral vision, and some fusion, and

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a chart with patterns intended to teachfull and complete fusion.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a typical chart provided by thepresent invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 5; that chart being denotedgenerally by the numeral 30. The chart 30 has a front plate 32 of atransparent, fracture-resistant material such as Lucite, Plexiglas orthe like. A back plate 34, of similar material, is provided for thechart 30; and the two plates are coextensive. Spacers 36 are disposedbetween the edges of the transparent plates 32 and 34, and they spacethe center portions of those plates apart. A tape 38 begins adjacent apoint at one side of the lower center of the plates 32 and 34, extendsaround .the sides and tops of the plates 32 and 34 and terminatesadjacent a point at the other side of the lower center of plates 32 and34. The tape 38 holds the front plate 32 and the back plate 34 and thespacers 36 in assembled relation; thus making the chart a unitarystructure. The tape 38 also protects the interior of the chart againstentry of dirt, dust or other foreign matter. Pivots 40 are disposedwithin the interior of the chart 30; those pivots preferably beingcemented in recesses in the back plate 34 of the chart 30. These pivotsrotatably support .gear 42, gear 44, and connecting gear 46. The gears42 and 44 are preferably made of the same transparent material of whichthe front and back plates 32 and 34 are made. The connecting gear 46 mayalso be made of transparent material, but it can be made of opaquematerial.

As shown particularly in Figure l, the gears 42 and 44 are whollyenclosed within the space between the front and back plates 32 and 34 ofthe chart 30, but the connecting gear 46 has the lower portion thereofprojecting below the lower edges of those plates. The projecting portionof the gear 46 can extend through a. slot formed in the bottom of asubstantially light-tight housing of an optical instrument such as shownin said co-pending application; engaging and being acted upon, at suchtimes, by the motor-driven gear of said instrument. The connecting gear46 of Fig. 1 will drive the gear 42 and the gear 44; Theconnecting gearsof other charts may be arranged to drive one or both of the gears 32 and'44, and in some instances one of the gears 42 and 44 can drive theother. For example, inthe charts of Figs. 4, 6, and 7 the connectinggears 46 rotate the gears 42; those gears being the only gears of thosecharts. In the chart of Fig. 8 the connecting gear 46 engages and drivesboth of the gears 42 and 44. In the charts of Figs. 2 and 3 the gears 44engage and drive the gears 42; the gears 44 in turn being engaged anddriven by the connecting gears 46. In the various charts 30 the gears42, 44 and 46 can provide different combinations of motion; but in eachand every case the gears 42 and 44 are wholly enclosed within the spacedefined by plates 32 and 34 of the charts, and the connecting gears 46have portions extending below the edges of the charts to engage and bedriven by the said motor-driven gear.

The gears 42, 44'and 46 are spur gears, and the clearance circles, pitchcircles and addendum circles of those gears are dimensioned so thosegears can engage and drive each other. The clearance circles, pitchcircles and addendum circles of the gears in the charts of Figs. 2 to 8are denoted by the numerals 74, 76, and 78 respectively. Although notindicated in the drawing, lest the showing thereof becloud the showingof the arrangement of the gears within the charts 30, all portions ofthe charts 30 that are disposed outwardly of the patterns of thosecharts will be masked. This masking will usually be done by coating theconfronting surfaces of the front and back plates 32 and 34 with a denseblack paint or ink, or by gluing black sheets to one or the otheror-both of those plates. The paint, ink or sheets will define two largecircular openings in reg: ister with the patterns of the charts; thoseopenings being small enough to permit the teeth of the gears to behidden but large enough to permit viewing of the full extent of thepatterns. This masking of those portions of charts 30 which are disposedoutwardly of the patterns of those charts will provide such a strongcontrast with the trans-illuminated patterns of the charts that thepatients eyes will be irrestistibly drawn to those patterns.

Charts with a number of different patterns can be used with the saidoptical instrument; the selection of the particular patterns used beingdetermined by the needs of the patient. The chart 30 of Fig. 6 haspatterns which eliminate or reduce amblyopia of one eye. That chart hasa rotatable pattern-carrying gear 42 driven by connecting gear 46.Painted on, printed on, glued on, or otherwise found on gear 42 are athick annulus 84 and four diamond-like projections 88. The thick annulus84 is concentric with the gear 42, and the diamond-like projections; 88are contiguous with and extend radially outwardly from that annulus. Thegear 42 will be placed directly opposite the center of the lens in thelefthand opening in the wall of the said optical instrument. A pattern,which consists of a thick annulus 86 and a number ofcircumferentially-spaced dots 90, is provided at the righthand side ofthe chart 30; that pattern being painted on, printed on, glued to, orotherwise formed on the front plate 32 or back plate 34 of the chart 30.This second pattern will be stationary and will be directly opposite thecenter of the lens in the righthand opening of the said opticalinstrument. The annuli 84 and 86 are congruent; and a circle passingthrough the tips of the diamond-like projections 88 will have the samediameter and will be congruent with a circle tangent to the innerperipheries of dots 90. The annuli 84 and 86, the projections 88, andthe dots 90 will be seen in dense black objects against transparent,illuminated backgrounds.

When the patient looks through the lenses in the openings of the saidoptical instrument, his brain should perceive .two distinct visualimpressions, one from each eye, and should fuse these impressionstogether into one complete impression. That one impression shouldconsist of a fixed annulus, a number of fixed dots spaced outwardly fromthat annulus, and a number of diamonds moving circumferentially betweenthe annulus and the dots.

The chart 30 of Fig. 6 will be placed in the said optical instrument insuch a way that the dot and annulus pattern is opposite the patientsdominant eye while the diamond and annulus pattern is opposite thepatients amblyopic eye. Both the left hand and right hand patterns ofchart 30 will be trans-illuminated, and thus both patterns will bestimulative. However, the rotation of the diamond and annulus patternwill provide a greatly increased stimulus for the amblyopic eye, thusforcing the patients brain to perceive the visual impression from thateye. If the patient sees a fixed annulus, a fixed circle of dots, anddiamonds moving circumferentially around that annulus, he will bepermitted to view this chart for several minutes. The lamps behind thechart will be deenergized periodically, thus giving the patients eyes arest followed by strong stimulation. If the patient does not see movingdiamonds, greater stimulation for the diamond and annulus pattern isrequired. That greater stimulation can be provided by varying theintensity of illumination from the lamp behind the diamond and annuluspattern, or by interposing a red filter between that lamp and thediamond and annular pattern, or both. Further relative stimulation forthe amblyopic eye can be'provided'by setting the rheostat for the otherlamp so the intensity of illumination from that lamp is decreased, or byinterposing a blue filter between that lamp and the dot and annuluspattern, or' both. The blue filter will further reduce the stimulationfor the patients dominant eye, thus increasing the relative stimulationfor the patients amblyopic eye. 'It will be noted that the diamond andannulus pat tern and the dot and annulus pattern are large and provide astriking contrast with their transparent, illuminated backgrounds. Thisis important because the brains of many patients habitually suppress thevisual impressions from amblyopic eyes to such an extent that small ormedium-sized patterns will not be adequate, and flat-lighted patternswill be useless.

The thick annuli 84- and 86 stimulate the patients brain to combine themental perceptions of the two visual impressions together, and themoving diamonds provide such a strong visual impression for theamblyopic eye that the brain cannot suppress it. Continued use of thischart will reduce or eliminate the amblyopia in the patients amblyopiceye.

If the chart 30 of Fig. 6 is used in the position shown Fig. 6, thatchart will stimulate the patients left eye. To cause that chart tostimulate the patientsrighteye, it is only necessary to rotate thatchart one hundred and eighty degrees around either of its side edges. Inthose cases where a stimulation-controlling filter is not needed, adiffusing filter should be employed to provide even illumination of thepatterns of the charts.

Fig. 7 shows a chart 30 which is usable to improve the rotation andperipheral vision of the left eye, and to encourage fusion of the visualimpressions from both eyes. That chart has a pattern-carrying gear 42and a connecting gear 46; the pattern on gear 42 being an annulus 92with a light-transmitting opening 96 therein. The annulus 92 isconcentric with gear 42, and it defines a large central opening. Avertical line 98 is fixedly secured to the front plate 32 or back plate34 of chart 30, and that line bisects the large central opening definedby annulus 92. The righthand pattern of the chart 30 has a fixed annulus94 and a fixed horizontal line 100. The annuli 92 and 94, and the lines98 and 100 should all fuse together to provide the impression of oneannulus surrounding a slender cross; and the light-transmitting circleshould appear as a bright dot moving along the annulus. If the patientwatches the center of the slender cross the peripheral vision in hisleft eye will be stimulated by the bright dot of light; and. if hefollows that dot the rotation of that eye will be stimulated. The annuli92 and 94 will encourage fusion, and the lines 98 and 100 will indicateimmediately whether or not the brain of the patient is perceiving twovisual impressions. If the patients brain is not perceiving two visualimpressions, additional stimulus will be provided for the suppressedeye. This can be done by selection of the proper filter, setting of thelamps at the proper intensity levels, or any desired combination of thetwo.

If it is desired to develop rotation and peripheral vision inthe righteye and to develop fusion in both eyes, the chart 30 can be rotated onehundred and eighty (180) degrees about one of its side edges. Theannulus 92 and its moving dot of light will then be presented to theright eye.

The chart 30 shown in Fig. 8 develops fusion of the visual impressionsfrom both eyes. That chart has rotatable gears 42 and 44, and both ofthose gears engage the. connecting gear 46. This enables both of thegears 42 and 44 to rotate in the same direction. Gear 42 has a thickcross 102 thereon, and the vertical arm of that cross has two (2)circular openings 104 therein; those openings being at opposite ends ofthat arm. Gear 44 has a heavy cross 106 thereon, and the horizontal armof. that cross has two circular openings 108 therein; those openingsbeing at opposite ends of that arm. The heaviness of the crosses 102 and108 will facilitate fusion of the: two visual impressions received bythe'patients eyes. The presence or absence of' the circles 104 and 108will indicate the attainment or non-attainment of fusion. If only twocircles are seen" by the patient, additional stimulation will beprovided for the suppressed eye by inserting a red filter, or bychanging the intensity of the lamps for the patterns or both. It may bethat during the. use of, this chart 30 the patients brain willmomentarily refuse to perceive the visual impressions from both eyes'butcontinued observation of the chart will force the brain to fuse the twovisual impressions together. At such times, the patient will see onecross with lighted circles at the four tips thereof.

The chart 30 of Fig. 2 has a gear 42 and a gear 44; the gear 44 beingdriven by connecting gear 46, and acting to drive gear 42. With thisarrangement, gears 42 and 44 will rotate in opposite directions. Gear 42has a large eccentrically-loaded circle 110, and gear 44 has a largeeccentrically-located circle 112; the circles 110. and, 112' beingoppositely located on gears 42 and 44. As the gear 46 is rotated, thegears 42 and 44 will rotate and cause the circles 110 and.112. toapproach and move away from each. other. Whenthis chart is presented tothe patient, the patients eyes will. follow the circles 110 and'1'12 asthey move towardand. away from each other; the; patients, brain fusingthe-visual. impressions into. one

circle that moves eccentrically. This provides abduction and adductionof the patients eyes; excellent teachings for patients .whose eyes arecrossed.

The chart 30 of Fig. 3 has gears- 42, 44, and 46; gear 46 driving gear44, and gear 44 driving gear 42. Gear 42 has a circle 114 thereon, aninner annulus 116 and an outer annulus 118. The circle 114 and theannuli 116 and 118 are not concentric; instead, they are eccentric ofthe gear 42 and of each other. Gear 44 has a circle 120, an innerannulus 122, and an outer annulus 124. The circle 120 and the annuli 122and 124 also are not concentric; that circle and those annuli being,however, slightly less eccentric than circle 114 and annuli 116 and 118.When the gears 42 and 44 are rotated, the patients brain will perceivethe circles and annuli successively approaching and moving away from thepatient in stereoscopic fashion. With continued viewing of the patternson gears 42 and 44, the circles and annuli seem to move through greaterand greater paths. This greatly develops stereopsis.

The chart 30 of Fig. 4 has a gear 42 and a connecting gear 46; the gear42 carrying a circle 126 at the center thereof and radially-projectingspokes 128. The righthand side of the chart carries a fixed annulus 132and a concentric circle 130. This chart 30 is similar in purpose to thechart 30 of Fig. 6, being intended to reduce or eliminate amblyopia. Thepatients brain should perceive two (2) visual impressions and fuse theminto one; that one impression including a fixed circle and a fixedannulus with circumferentially-moving spokes. The movement of the spokes128 will force the brain to perceive the visual impressions from theamblyopic eye. The chart 30 of Fig. 4 can be alternated with the chart30 of Fig. 6 and similar charts to avoid monotony. In this way, interestand variety can be provided while sustaining the same teaching.

Correction of amblyopia in the left eye, correction of amblyopia in theright eye, improved rotation of the left eye, improved rotation of theright eye, improved abduction, improved adduction, improved fusion,improved stereopsis, improved peripheral vision for the left eye, andimproved peripheral vision for the right eye are all made possible withthe charts provided by the present invention. Selection of the propercharts 30 and their insertion in the said optical instrument are allthat is needed to initiate correction of the sight imperfections.

The patterns of the charts will usually be defined by black, opaque ink,paint or paper; but those patterns can be defined by opaque ortranslucent inks, paints or papers of different colors. In fact,different combinations of opaque or translucent colors can be used inmaking those patterns. This makes additional stimulation possible.

Whereas a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described in the drawing and accompanying description, it should beobvious to those skilled in the: art that various changes may be made inthe form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

l.. A chart that is selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates, defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circulardisc-like configuration that is intermediate the planes of said frontand back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel to said planes,said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on said chart and havingone portion of the periphery thereof disposed within said space betweensaid 'front and back plates while having another portion of theperiphery thereof extending outwardly from saidspace and projectingbeyond the periphery of saidchart, said other portion of saidconnecting' gear being adapted to be driven by said optical instrumentandsaid eonnecting'gear being adapted to move said movable supportwhenever said chart is disposed in assembled relation with saidopticalinstrurnent, a pattern on said movable support, and a secondpattern that is in the same plane with said first pattern but is'spaeedwholly apart from the first said pattern.

2. A chart that is selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception throughbinocular vision and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a pivot on said chart for saidmovable support, a connecting gear of circular disc-like configurationthat is intermediate the planes of said front and back plates'and thathas the faces thereof parallel to said planes, said connecting gearbeing rotatably mounted on said chart and having one portion of theperiphery thereof disposed within said space between said front and backplates while having another portion of the periphery thereof extendingoutwardly from said space and projecting beyond the periphery of saidchart, said other portion of said connect ing gear being adapted to bedriven by said optical instrurnent and said connecting gear beingadapted to move said movable support whenever said chart is disposed inassembled relation with said optical instrument, a pattern on saidmovable support, said movable support being a gear of transparentmaterial, said front and back plates having transparent portions inregister with said movable support, and a second pattern that is in thesame plane with said first pattern but is spaced wholly apart from thefirst said pattern.

3. A chart that is selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circulardisc-like configuration that is intermediate the planes of said frontand back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel to said planes,said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on said chart and havingone portion of the periphery thereof disposed within said space betweensaid front and back plates while having another portion of the peripherythereof extending outwardly from said space and projecting beyond theperiphrey of said chart, said other portion of said connecting gearbeing adapted to be driven by said optical instrument and saidconnecting gear being adapted to move said movable support whenever saidchart is disposed in assembled relation with said optical instrument, apattern on said movable support, said movable support being registerablewith one eye of the patient using the optical instrument, and a secondpattern that is laterally spaced from said movable support for registrywith the other eye of the patient using said instrument.

4. A chart that is selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circulardisc-like configuration that is intermediate the planes of said frontand back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel to said planes,said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on said chart and havingone portion of the periphery thereof disposed within said space betweensaid front and back plates while having another portion of the peripherythereof extending outwardly from said space and projecting beyond theperiphery of said chart, said other portion of said connecting gearbeing adapted to be driven by said optical instrument and saidconnecting gear being adapted to move said movable support whenever saidchart is disposed in assembled relation with said optical instrument, apattern on said movable support, said movable support being registerablewith one eye of the patient using the optical instrument, and a secondpattern that is laterally spaced from said movable support for registrywith the other eye of the patient using said instrument, said secondpattern being mounted on a second movable support, said second movablesup port responding to rotation of said connecting gear to rotate andthereby rotate said second pattern.

5. A chart that is selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circulardisc-like configuration that is intermediate the planes of said frontand back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel to said planes,said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on said chart and havingone portion of the periphery thereof disposed within said space betweensaid front and back plates while having another portion of the peripherythereof extending outwardly from said space and projecting beyond theperiphery of said chart, said other portion of said connecting gearbeing adapted to be driven by said optical instrument and saidconnecting gear being adapted to move said movable support Whenever saidchart is disposed in assembled relation with said optical instrument, apattern on said movable support, said movable support being registerablewith one eye of the patient using the optical instrument, and a secondpattern that is laterally spaced from said movable support for registrywith the other eye of the patient using said instrument, said secondpattern being mounted on a second movable support, said second movablesupport engaging and being driven by the first said movable supportwhereby said movable supports rotate in opposite directions about theiraxes, said patterns being eccentric of said axes to teach abduction andadduction.

6. A chart that is selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circulardisc-like configuration that is intermediate the planes of said frontand back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel to said planes,said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on said chart and havingone portion of the periphery thereof disposed within said space betweensaid front and back plates while having another portion of the peripherythereof extending outwardly from said space and projecting beyond theperiphery of said chart, said other portion of said connecting gearbeing adapted to be driven by said optical instrument and saidconnecting gear being adapted to move said movable support whenever saidchart is disposed in assembled relation with said optical instrument, apattern on said movable support, said movable support being registerablewith one eye of the patient using the optical instrument, and a secondpattern that is laterally spaced from said movable support for registrywith the other eye of the patient using said instrument, said secondpattern being mounted on a second movable support, said second movablesupport engaging and being driven by the first said movable supportwhereby said movable supports rotate in opposite directions about theiraxes, said patterns being eccentric of said axes with one of saidpatterns being slightly less cecentric whereby said patterns provide amoving stereoscopic pattern.

7. A chart that is one of a plurality of charts that are interchangeablyand selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions, and that comprises a front plate, a back plate, saidplates defining a space therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circulardisc-like configuration that is intermediate theplanes of said. frontand back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel, to said planes,said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on, said chart and havingone portion of. the periphery thereof disposed within said space betweensaid front and. back plates while having another portion, of, theperiphery thereof extending outwardly from said space and projectingbeyond the periphery of said chart, said other portion of, saidconnecting gear being adapted to be driven by said optical instrumentand said connecting. gear beingadapted to move said, movable supportwhenever said chart is disposed in assembled relation with said,optical; instrument, a pattern on said movable support, and: a secondpatternthat is in the same plane: with said first. pattern but isspacedwholly apart from the, first said pattern.

8; A chart that. is one of a plurality of charts that areinterchangeably and: selectively disposable in assembled relation with arotation-imparting optical instrument to teach mental perception ofvisual impressions, and that comprises a front plate, a back plate,said' plates defining aspace therebetween, a movable support within saidspace between said front and back plates, a connecting gear of circular,disc-like-configuration that is intermediate the planesof said frontand; back plates and that has the faces thereof parallel: to saidplanes, said connecting gear being rotatably mounted on said chart andhaving one portion of the periphery thereof disposed within said spacebetween said front and back plates while having another'portion, of theperiphery thereof extending outwardly from said space and projectingbeyond the periphery of said. chart,,,said other portion of saidconnecting gear being: adapte'd;.to be driven by said optical instrumentand said connecting gear being adapted to move said movable supportwhenever said chart is disposed in assembled relation with said opticalinstrument, a. pattern on said movable support, said movable supportbeing registerable with one eye of the patient using the opticalinstrument, and a second pattern that is laterally spaced fromsaidmovable support for registry with the other eye of the patient usingsaid instrument.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

